Published 11:45 pm, Saturday, November 4, 2017

In this file photo, author Dan Slater speaks about his new book, “Wolf Boys,” during a question and answer session at Books-A-Million at Mall Del Norte.

In this file photo, author Dan Slater speaks about his new book, “Wolf Boys,” during a question and answer session at Books-A-Million at Mall Del Norte.

Photo: Danny Zaragoza/Laredo Morning Times

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In this file photo, Danny Valdez meets with Author Dan Slater on as Valdez gets his copy of Slater's book Wolf Boys signed after a question and answer session at Books-A-Million.

In this file photo, Danny Valdez meets with Author Dan Slater on as Valdez gets his copy of Slater's book Wolf Boys signed after a question and answer session at Books-A-Million.

Photo: Danny Zaragoza/Laredo Morning Times

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Here at the 13 things you need to know about one of Mexico's deadliest cartels, Los Zetas.

Here at the 13 things you need to know about one of Mexico's deadliest cartels, Los Zetas.

Photo: -, Courtesy

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1. Los Zetas are ex-military

The foundation of what the United States has called “the most technologically advanced, sophisticated and dangerous cartel operating in Mexico,” goes back to the Matamoros and Tamulipas-based Gulf Cartel. The group is comprised largely of former elite Mexican military and initially began as hit men for the Gulf Cartel according to CNN.

According to a graphic provided by Stratfor Global Intelligence Agency, the cartel occupies the gulf side of Mexico such as Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz, Tabasco, Campeche and the Yucatan. less

2. Where do they operate?

According to a graphic provided by Stratfor Global Intelligence Agency, the cartel occupies the gulf side of Mexico such as Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz, Tabasco, ... more

that cartel leader Omar Trevino Morales was apprehended by Mexican authorities in early March 2015. In 2013, former Zetas cartel leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales was arrested by Mexican authorities in Tamaulipas, according to Tamaulipas media reports. Just one year before Morales’ arrest, Mexican marines killed former Zetas leader Heriberto Lazcano in a shootout as he left a baseball game, Michael S. Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA, said.

According to Michael S. Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA, a new leader of Los Zetas has not been identified.

4. Currently without leadership

According to Michael S. Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA, a new leader of Los Zetas has not been identified.

Photo: JULIO CESAR AGUILAR

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5. Drug smuggling and sales

Los Zetas partake in the sale and distribution of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, however, Michael S. Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA, said their biggest money makers are cocaine and meth.

Michael S. Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA writes in his book, Deal, that Los Zetas also participate in extortion, kidnapping and theft of Mexico’s natural resources, human trafficking and money laundering through horse racing.

Michael S. Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA , said Los Zetas have been at odds with the Jalisco new Generation Cartel for a decade, calling the cartel their “sworn enemy.” So much that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel also go by “Mata Zetas,” which means “kill zetas” in Spanish.

After reaching its peak in 2011 with the New Generation Cartel’s dumping of bodies in the Boca Del Rio, the conflict between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Veracruz has dwindled to dormancy in recent years. Both continue to operate in Veracruz.

While Los Zetas appear to be a stand-alone cartel on the surface, they work with many groups that originated from the Beltran Leyva Cartel, a trunk of the Sinaloa Cartel. After the Beltran Leyva brothers were either arrested, they maintained their alliances with the Beltran Leyva organization Stratfor Global Intelligence Agency’s Mexico security analyst Tristan Reed said. They’ve also worked with with La Linea in East of Ciudad Juarez and the Sierras in Chihuahua State.

Former chief of international operations for the DEA Michael S. Vigil said that because of the poverty in Mexico, it’s not difficult to recruit new members. “Some feel the only way out is to get involved in the drug trade,” Vigil said. “It’s very easy to recruit these young men, their only role models are drug traffickers and they see them riding around with new cars, beauty queens wrapped around their arms and that’s what they aspire to be.”

It was rumored that Los Zetas also went by “Los Legendarios,” but Stratfor Global Intelligence Agency’s Mexico security analyst Tristan Reed said this was perpetuated through intentional misinformation.

According to Stratfor Global Intelligence Agency’s Mexico security analyst Tristan Reed, Los Zetas recently changed up their strategy moving their focus away from high profile displays of violence which sent them further under the radar. Still, Reed said this shouldn’t be confused with power slipping. While the group has suffered substantially from arrests, it is still the most powerful group in Tamaulipas and among the most powerful crime groups in Mexico.

Click through the following gallery to see Zetas cartel members captured through the years.

Click through the following gallery to see Zetas cartel members captured through the years.

Photo: LMTonline

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Sigifredo Nájera Talamantes, known as “El Canicón”, reportedly ordered an attack on a U.S. consulate office.

Sigifredo Nájera Talamantes, known as “El Canicón”, reportedly ordered an attack on a U.S. consulate office.

Photo: Elblogdelnarco.com

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Alleged drug traffickers of the gang Los Zetas, Hector Raul Luna, aka "el tori" (L) and David Eduardo Fuentes, aka "el chile", are presented to the press in Mexico City with an assortment of seized weapons, on June 10, 2010. Luna is accused of attacking the headquarters of the U.S. consulate in the city of Saltillo last October 12, 2010. less

Alleged drug traffickers of the gang Los Zetas, Hector Raul Luna, aka "el tori" (L) and David Eduardo Fuentes, aka "el chile", are presented to the press in Mexico City with an assortment of seized weapons, on ... more

Members of the National Civil Police and the Guatemalan Army escort Mexican nationals Salvador Arguelles Briones (a.k.a. Manchas) (C) and Jose Antonio Guzman Gomez (back) upon their arrival to a Guatemalan Air Force base in Guatemala City on June 5, 2011. less

Members of the National Civil Police and the Guatemalan Army escort Mexican nationals Salvador Arguelles Briones (a.k.a. Manchas) (C) and Jose Antonio Guzman Gomez (back) upon their arrival to a Guatemalan Air ... more

Photo: JOHAN ORDONEZ, AFP/Getty Images

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The member of Los Zetas drug cartel Edgar Huerta Montiel, aka "El Wache", is presented to the press by the Mexican Federal Police.

The member of Los Zetas drug cartel Edgar Huerta Montiel, aka "El Wache", is presented to the press by the Mexican Federal Police.

Photo: YURI CORTEZ, AFP/Getty Images

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Alleged member of Los Zetas drug cartel Abraham Barrios Caporal, aka "El Erasmo", is presented to the press in Mexico City, on June 30, 2011.

Alleged member of Los Zetas drug cartel Abraham Barrios Caporal, aka "El Erasmo", is presented to the press in Mexico City, on June 30, 2011.

Mexican Army soldiers escort Valdemar Quintanilla Soriano, aka 'Adal', financial operator of Los Zetas drug cartel, during a presentation to the media, at the Attorney General's headquarters in Mexico City, on August 3, 2011. less

Mexican Army soldiers escort Valdemar Quintanilla Soriano, aka 'Adal', financial operator of Los Zetas drug cartel, during a presentation to the media, at the Attorney General's headquarters in Mexico City, on ... more

Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images

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Mexican Army soldiers escort Carlos Oliva Castillo, aka "La Rana", alleged member of "Los Zetas" drug cartel, during his presentation to the press at the National Defence Secretaryship headquarters in Mexico City, on October 13, 2011. less

Mexican Army soldiers escort Carlos Oliva Castillo, aka "La Rana", alleged member of "Los Zetas" drug cartel, during his presentation to the press at the National Defence Secretaryship headquarters in Mexico ... more

Jaime Gonzalez Duran, a.k.a. "Hummer" (C), founder of a group of hitmen called the "Los Zetas" in 2008. Gonzalez worked for drug trafficker Osiel Cardenas Guillen, a.k.a. "El Mata Amigos" (The Friends' Killer).

Jaime Gonzalez Duran, a.k.a. "Hummer" (C), founder of a group of hitmen called the "Los Zetas" in 2008. Gonzalez worked for drug trafficker Osiel Cardenas Guillen, a.k.a. "El Mata Amigos" (The Friends' Killer).

Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images

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Anti-narcotics police stand guard in Guatemala City over explosives and arms which were being used by members of the Mexican armed group called Los Zetas to train new recruits.

Anti-narcotics police stand guard in Guatemala City over explosives and arms which were being used by members of the Mexican armed group called Los Zetas to train new recruits.

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

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German Torres Jimenez (C), aka "Z-25", and other alleged members of the drug cartel "Los Zetas" are presented to the press at the Command Centre in Mexico City on April 25, 2009.

German Torres Jimenez (C), aka "Z-25", and other alleged members of the drug cartel "Los Zetas" are presented to the press at the Command Centre in Mexico City on April 25, 2009.

Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images

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Alleged drug traffickers Christopher Fuentes Letelier (R), is presented to the press in Mexico City, on September 9, 2009.

Alleged drug traffickers Christopher Fuentes Letelier (R), is presented to the press in Mexico City, on September 9, 2009.

Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images

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Four alleged members of the group "Los Zetas".

Four alleged members of the group "Los Zetas".

Photo: STR, AFP/Getty Images

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Alleged members of the "Los Zetas" presented at a press conference in Mexico City on December 4, 2009.

Alleged members of the "Los Zetas" presented at a press conference in Mexico City on December 4, 2009.

Photo: STR, AFP/Getty Images

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Alleged members of the "Los Zetas" in 2009, following their arrest in Juarez, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico. Ten suspected drug traffickers and a female passerby were killed in a shootout with police in northern Monterrey. less

Alleged members of the "Los Zetas" in 2009, following their arrest in Juarez, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico. Ten suspected drug traffickers and a female passerby were killed in a shootout with police in northern ... more

Photo: STR, AFP/Getty Images

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Alleged members of the Zetas drug cartel are shown to the press in Villahermosa, Mexico, on December 23, 2009.

Alleged members of the Zetas drug cartel are shown to the press in Villahermosa, Mexico, on December 23, 2009.

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

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Zeta-related book 'Wolf Boys' excluded from UISD curriculum

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A book that recounts the tale of two Laredoans who grew up to become hit men with Los Zetas drug cartel has been excluded from UISD high school reading lists.

United Independent School District said "Wolf Boys" was not officially banned. As part of a new incentive to support English Language Arts and encourage reading among high school students, a group of UISD educators read seven books that could be read in the classroom and created lessons for them, UISD said in a statement. The books chosen focused on young people as well as individual journeys and hardships. According to UISD, "Wolf Boys" was not one of the books reviewed for this purpose.

The author of the book, Dan Slater, said, "Many teachers, both within the district and in other districts, have already taught the book and more were planning on teaching it. Dozens of high schools around the country are bringing 'Wolf Boys' into the classroom."

"Wolf Boys" focuses on the journey of Gabriel Cardona and Rosalio "Bart" Reta, and how the young men fell into the world of the Mexican drug cartel.

After hearing that UISD decided not to include "Wolf Boys" in the curriculum for students, one teacher said she was curious why and read the book. Despite the book containing graphic violence, the teacher said the story depicted a reality that was unfortunately familiar to Laredo but important for students to learn about.

"After reading it and having dealt with students who mirrored or shadowed the lives of the 'characters,' I found that it was a necessary read because I feel that it could save students who are contemplating the 'thug life,'" the teacher said.

The book was banned from Texas prisons after the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Director's Review Committee cited two sentences, which explain how to conceal and smuggle narcotics in a vehicle, as the reason behind their decision.

Slater said banning the book will only encourage kids to read it outside of school, without a teacher for guidance.

"Not that they need guidance to read a book, particular one about a subject that some, many, or all know too well," Salter further stated. "All a ban does is take a universal reality and render it somehow shameful."

Slater, a former reporter for Wall Street, became intrigued with the story of Cardona and Reta after reading a New York Times article in 2009. However, he was most intrigued as to how two childhood friends were led into the world of drug cartel wars.

Slater exchanged letters with Cardona for years, which were used as the basis for the book. At a book signing last year in Laredo, Slater said most stories about drug cartels were told through the eyes of the cartel bosses, which was easy for people to glamorize.

He wanted to depict the truth about the drug war through the eyes of the young men, the foot soldiers.

"As far as what I hope the book does in Laredo, along the border, and elsewhere in the U.S. is just open people's minds to what's really going on here," Slater had said. "And to why the drug war is such a counterproductive endeavor for our youth. It's not just about the money. It's about providing kids with a sense of belonging that they're not finding in their societies."